First Mayor and City Council. -- Court House
Built. -- Second city election. -- Women debarred from saloons.
-- First grading of streets. -- Third city election. -- James
Belton elected mayor -- Condition of city streets. -- North
side in 1878. -- An Indian scare. -- Presbyterian church
history. -- The town goes dry. -- First sidewalks. -- Keith
block and its associations. -- McDonald block and first bank in
city. -- The M. E. church and its pastors.

___________________

There were two factions in North
Platte in 1874. One held that the simple method of early days by
which the city was governed was satisfactory, and the other , that it
would be more so if a mayor and city council elected by the people
conducted local affairs. Details of the controversy being of little
importance at this date, it is sufficient to state that North Platte
had the population and standing at the time to entitle it to
municipal government, and that

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the popular party applied for a charter and got it. There was
little to attract public attention in those days, and the novelty of
a local election caused considerable excitement. Candidates were put
forward, an election held, and the following gentlemen chosen to fill
city offices: Anthony Ries, mayor: Alexander Struther, treasurer; E.
H. Barrett, clerk: A. H. Church, judge: A. Walker, marshal; J. W.
LaMunyon, engineer.

Councilmen -- First ward, W. J.
Patterson, and J. D. Wilson; Second ward, Russell Watts and E. D.
Thoelecke; Third ward, Claus Mylander and W. C. Bogue. Anthony Ries
took his seat as mayor, April 14, 1875, and presided at the first
council meeting held at North Platte. This council had much to
contend with, and accomplished little in the way of city improvements
during its brief term of office.

Early in 1876 the court house was
finished and turned over to the commissioners. It was pronounced a
well arranged, imposing building, which it certainly was at the time,
but times have changed, and so have the requirement of Lincoln
county, and what was never dreamt of, it is now the heart of the
city.

At the first meeting of this
council, the mayor drew attention to the condition of the streets,
several being almost impassable after rain, and urged that vice in
every form be suppressed. There was ample room for reform, for
saloons were numerous, and women of questionable character frequented
them, and it was nothing unusual to see cowboys and maidens fair
having "a high old time" in such places in full view of passers by.
After appointing committees, the mayor selected Bogue, Miller and
Schatz to frame "An ordinance to prohibit lewd women from entering or
visiting saloons." This was done and approved, and became law January
16, 1877, and no ordinance has been so rigorously enforced or
observed, for women are never seen in or around such

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places in North Platte.

It was during this council's
administration that city streets were first graded, and the first
sidewalks and crossings laid down. The members had high aspirations,
and had a scheme to beautify the city with a system of irrigation
ditches, water to be obtained from the north river, but after careful
surveying the city, engineer pronounced the scheme impracticable.

This council found little money in
the treasury, and being unable to make many city improvements were
caustically criticized; a petition signed by James Belton and
sixty-seven others calling for its "total abrogation" being
presented. This petition did not worry the council, for after being
read, it

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was "laid on the table" and the council went plodding along
undeterred until the time came for it to step down and out.

At the somewhat hotly contested
election of city officers to serve during the year 1878, James Belton
was elected mayor with a majority of 168 votes; T. J. Foley,
treasurer; T. Keliher, clerk; A. H. Church, police judge; Samuel
Watts, engineer.

Councilmen elected were: First
ward, J. Worthly and J. Schatz; Second ward, James Babbitt and
Charles McDonald; Third ward, George Mason and Goodale.

When James Belton took his seat as
mayor of North Platte, April 15, 1878, the few streets of the city
most frequented were in a deplorable condition with mud and filth
after rain. A resolution presented to the council in the spring of
that year gives a graphic word picture of their appearance. It
follows: "Resolved by Charles McDonald that the present condition of
Locust street, between Fourth and Front streets, and of Fifth street,
between Locust and the southeast corner of the government post is
standing disgrace to our fair city, being a nuisance that

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should be at once abated. Therefore, resolved that the committee
on streets and bridges be, and they are hereby authorized, and made
their duty to proceed at once and have said streets well repaired by
ditches, bridges and putting in cross-walks so that the citizens of
our city may be able to travel those streets, and the frog ponds of
filthy, stagnent water be dried up."

This resolution was adopted, but it
does not appear that it was ever put in force, however, in it we have
a glimpse of the city streets as they were in 1878.

There were few dwelling houses on
the north side then, but among the residents were W. C. Bogue, S. W.
Bye, Clause Mylander, the Frazers and VanDorans. It may be remarked
that Mylander planted the first tree on the north side, and they were
a land mark for many years. For a long time there were no other
trees, and the scene, east, west and north was uninviting prairie
containing many sloughs and marshes difficult to cross, but the
council remodled (sic) this by having foot bridges built. During the
Belton administration, the Indians got on the warpath, and committed
deeds of rapine

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in the district no great distance from the city. For home
protection, a body of citizens called the North Platte Guards was
organized. These patriots were commanded by Major North of Pawnee
fame, and had John Bratt for first lieutenant. The mayor and council
petitioned Silas Garber, then governor of Nebraska, to send arms, and
in due time, 180 rifles with ammunition reached the imperiled city.
This scare, like previous ones passed, but the council chamber looked
like an arsenal while it lasted and when the rifles were returned, a
resolution signed by the mayor, was sent to the governor, thanking
him "for his consideration for the lives and property of the citizens
of North Platte."

James Belton served the city
faithfully as mayor, but at the next election, R. J. Wyman was
elected with a majority of 263 votes, and Mr. Belton retired,
generously donating his salary to the city.

When R. J. Wyman took his seat as
mayor, April 5, 1879, he announced in his inaugural address that he
was opposed to all forms of vice in the city, and as liquor was at
the root of most evils, its sale within the city limits ought to be
suppressed. The majority of the councilmen agreed with him, and
despite

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reason given by the minority that a crusade of the kind would be
ineffectual, applications for renewals of saloon licenses lay on the
table disregarded, and it was "Resolved, that his honor the mayor
notify, selling intoxicating liquors, that no licenses to sell liquor
in North Platte will be granted by the council."

The foregoing resolution became law
May 6, 1879, and the town was declared "dry" and it may be remarked
that North Platte was the first (supposed to be) "dry" town in the
state of Nebraska.

Law in those days was loosely
administered and western life too free and easy for saloon keepers to
be deterred from selling liquor by any such measure, and they went
right along doing business, with the slight difference that beer was
called "buttermilk" and sold under that name.

The fact that saloon keepers
continued doing business being brought to the attention of council
the marshal was ordered to suppress the sale of liquor, and close all
houses of prostitution within the city. The order of the council and
the marshal were alike unheeded, and matters went on, the mud in
the

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streets becoming deeper, and pools of stagnant water
undimished.

Although this council's idea of
prohibition was somewhat crude, it passed some good measures one
being an ordinance to prohibit shooting within the limits of the
city, and carrying deadly weapons; also, making the construction of
sidewalks compulsory.

Such is a glimpse of the doings of
the city fathers in days gone by, when North Platte was emerging from
the primitive and becoming a fit claimant for a place among the
cities of Nebraska.

Persons of the same creed have a
tendency to get together and worship in unison. Ten Presbyterians
combined in 1873, and at a meeting held in the Baptist church in June
of that year, a church was organized by the Rev. N. C. Robinson,
superintendent of missions for southwestern Iowa and Nebraska. The
congregation worshipped in the Baptist church until the autumn of
1877, and afterwards in the court house hall until the summer of 1878
when it moved into a small frame church built by the congregation.
This church stood on the west side of Dewey street on the site now
occupied by the Keith theater. In course of time it came to be
sandwiched

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between much higher buildings and looked the most unpretentious
place of worship in town. The congre-

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gation, however, had high aspirations, and in 1905 the sanctuary
was moved from shade to sunshine and

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placed on the corner of Fourth and Willow streets, and there it
remained until the fall of 1909, when it was torn down to make room
for the finest church building in the city. It is in the Gothic style
and constructed of pressed brick, and has a belfry and tower. The
property including lots, is presently valued at $28,000.

The interior of this church is
spacious and fitted with every modern convenience. The windows are of
brilliant art glass. One portrays Christ in Gethsemanie, and another
a luminous picture of "The Creation.." A melodiously toned organ that
cost $2,500 complete this well arranged place of worship.

The fine sanctuary was dedicated
Sunday, June 26, 1910. Dr. Thomas B. Greenlee, a former pastor,
preached the sermon, and following the simple ceremony of dedication
Dr. W. H. Kearns offered an impressive prayer, and at its conclusion,
all understood that the building was set apart for the service of
God.

The Rev. George Franklin Williams,
M. A., is a son of the late Rev. George Williams, D. D. He received
his education in Bellevue college and Princeton Theological Seminary,
and did post graduate work in Princeton University. He was ordained
by

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the Presbytery of Omaha, in September, 1899, at Bancroft, and was
inducted to the charge, May 1, 1909.

Mr. Williams is a fluent and
attractive speaker, and since his settlement, the congregation has
increased and become prosperous. During the ten years of his
ministry, all of which has been in Nebraska, he has gained a wide
acquaintance over the state, and at a meeting of the Presbyterian
Synod in October, 1910, was elected moderator. He is, presently, the
most popular clergyman in and out of the church the town has
known.

Early in 1880, several shacks and a
frame building on the corner of Front and Dewey streets in which P.
J. Cohn & Company had a clothing store were moved, and on their
sites a brick block was built. It was much admired at the time, but
it was only the forerunner of similar building. "Beache's Bank," as
it was termed, was in this building, and the Star clothing house,
conducted by the late H. Otten, occupied the corner store room up to
May, 1886, when he vacated the premises in favor of the newly
organized First National bank which went into business with a paid up
capital of $50,000. The upper floor of this building has been
transformed sev-

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eral times. At first it figured as the Keith hall and was rented
for entertainments, but as that did not pay. it was divided into
rooms designed for offices. The land office was located in it, and
many lawyers procured a precarious livelihood acting for homesteaders
in contest cases and such like. The North Platte Telegraph had its
birth in one of the rooms in 1881, and redoubtable James McNulty
being proprietor and editor. James sold out, September 1st, 1883 and
left the city, but the paper survives after many vicissitudes as a
daily and weekly.

Early in 1882, Charles McDonald
erected the fine brick building on the west corner of Front and Dewey
streets and installed therein the McDonald State bank, which the
oldest banking house in town. It began as the McDonald and Walker
bank, and was located in a small frame building on Dewey street, but
in 1878, Mr. McDonald purchased his partner's interest in the
business and carried it on in his own name. In 1891, he bought the
imposing building corner at Sixth and Dewey streets, and transferred
his bank to the corner room, February 22, 1902, and there the
McDonald State Bank prospers.

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The North Platte National bank
occupied the premises in which the McDonald State bank is located.
The late Dr. A. D. Buckworth, who came from Hastings, Nebraska in
1872, to be register of the United States land office, was its
president and Samuel Goozee the cashier, but in some way, its affairs
got tangled up, and after a brief existence, its door was closed on
December 19, 1894, and its affairs passed into the hand of a
receiver.

It was 1882 that the corner stone of
the first Methodist Episcopal church was laid, but it was not until
1883 that the building was completed and dedicated to the worship of
God by Bishop F. Hurst. The cost was $3,5000.

court house hall, afterwards in the Unitarian hall, then in the
Baptist church, and again in the court house hall until a church was
built.

The first pastor was the Rev. J. C.
Stoughton who was appointed in 1877 and removed in 1878. He was
succeeded by the Rev. Edward Thompson who was appointed in March,
1878, and removed in October, 1879. He was followed by the Rev. P. C.
Johnson, October, 1879, and it was during his pastorate the first
church building was erected. The Rev. Johnson was removed in October,
1882, and was followed by the Rev. Joel A. Smith who remained one
year. The Rev. W. G. Vessels was appointed in 1883, and remained
until September, 1886, when the Rev. W. A. Amsbury was appointed and
removed in 1887, to take the district. The Rev. George W. Martin
followed and was removed in 1888, to give place to the Rev. A. J.
Clifton who remained until the close of 1890. The next pastor was the
Rev. Erastus Smith who served two years. The Rev. W. E. Hardaway was
appointed in October, 1892, and was removed in September, 1895. The
Rev. C. C. Snavely followed and served the charge until September,
1898, when the Rev. C. C. Wilson was appointed. Since the Rev.
Wil-

The clergymen whose names are
recorded above, were well know in North Platte. Several of them were
eloquent speakers and had the gift of fascinating an audience, and
were influential outside their own church circle.

The Rev. W. S. Porter wad inducted
to the pastorate on the 11th of October, 1908, and is fully as
popular as any of his predecessors. He was ushered into this world of
care in Louise county, Iowa, on May 15, 1868. His parents moved to
Kansas when he was about two years old, and remained until he was
about seven, when they again moved and located on a farm near
Monmouth, Illinois, where he attended the district school during the
months of winter, and from spring to fall, worked on the farm from
early to late. His lot was no worse than that of other farmer boys,
but unlike many, he had a thirst for knowledge and self-improvement,
and shortly after attaining his majority he took a full course at
Helling college, Abingdon, Illinois.

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After six years, two in preparation
work, and four in the College of Liberal Arts, he graduated in 1895
as valedictorian of his class with a degree A. B. In September, 1895,
he joined the Central Illinois conference of the Methodist Episcopal
church and served four years at Victoria, Illinois; two at Burnside,
Illinoise, and two years at LaHarpe, Illinois. In the fall of 1906,
he transferred from the Central Illinois conference to the Western
Nebraska conference, and was stationed at Holbrook, Furnas county,
Nebraska, where, after serving two years he was transferred to North
Platte. On December 20, 1894, the Rev. Porter was united in marriage
to Miss Nellie Childs, and their home is now blessed with four
children, three boys and one girl.

The first presiding elder of the M.
E. church was the Rev. T. B. Lemon. Rev. W. A. Amsbury followed him,
and he in turn was followed by the Rev. James Leonard. Afterwards, R.
S. Moore and A. Chamberlain were appointed.

Associated with this church is a
branch of the Epworth League, organized in May, 1889, and also, a
Ladies' Aid Society

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Many entertain pleasant memories of
the old M. E. frame church, the original home of the congregation,
which caught fire from a defective flue

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while a prayer meeting was in progress, on the evening of December
7, 1898. The calamity was deplored by the congregation, but with
them, to think was

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the act, and getting together, plans were laid and arrangements
made to erect a better church building. Solicitation for aid to do so
met with a hearty response and the result was, that the corner stone
of a brick edifice was laid by the Rev. C. C. Wilson on April 12th,
and on July 23, 1899, it was dedicated to the service of God by Dr.
Lewis Curts. The cost of the church when completed was about $8,000.
It makes an imposing appearance and is a credit to the city.